Embark More On Investigative Journalism: Ewhrudjakpo Tasks Bayelsa Journalists.

 

The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has advised media professionals in the state to engage more in investigative journalism rather than dwelling in arm chair journalism.

 To this end, the Deputy Governor asked the state council of Nigeria Union of Journalists to purge the council of  quacks  that parade themselves as professional Journalists.

This he said will enable journalism to reclaim its lost glory and rightful place in society as the fourth estate of the realm.

Speaking on Friday when he granted audience to the  state council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at his office in Government House, Yenagoa, Ewhrudjakpo recalled  the historical role played by media veterans like Dele Giwa, Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese, Ernest Ikoli and others in the past.

 He noted that the media profession shares same fate with the legal profession that are currently full of  activities of quacks and lack of ethical discipline among its practitioners.

 Lamenting that investigative journalism had virtually evaporated from the Nigerian media landscape due to the brown envelope syndrome, he  called for thorough house cleaning efforts to redeem the image of journalism in the country.

He expressed his love and respect for the two professions, which he described as noble and necessary for society,  lamenting that some lawyers like their media counterparts undermine the ethics of their profession with impunity and are now basking in corruption.

He, however, congratulated the new state executive council members of the NUJ and commended media practitioners for effective reportage of activities in the state and urged them to do more. 

On the proposed NUJ Bayelsa Media Summit,  Ewhrudjakpo said the state government would participate in the event, and assured the union of support in other areas.

"Today, investigative journalism appears to have almost waned and disappeared. We hardly see the brand of journalism for which Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese, Dele Giwa, Ernest Ikoli, Nnamdi Azikiwe and others were celebrated. So we need to do a lot of house cleaning.

"Nigeria would not be where it is today if majority of media and legal practitioners were upholding the tenets of their profession's in the performance of their constitutional duties.

'Let me use this opportunity to talk about a few issues about journalism and the legal profession in this country; where we are and where we need to be because I love these two professions.

'But unfortunately, the two of them are now facing the same onslaught. The level of quackery and anything goes attitude is very high in journalism and the legal profession.  No thanks to the brown envelope you people collect; and no thanks also to the night movements of lawyers.

"On behalf of the State Government, I want to congratulate you on your successful election. I want you to know that all that you went through during the period of your election constitute a great lesson for you to learn from.

Speaking earlier, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Nigeria, Comrade Tonye Yemoleigha, commended the state government for its notable strides in infrastructure, human capital development and fostering a healthy working relationship with the NUJ in the state.

Comrade Yemoleigha, who informed the Deputy Governor that the NUJ Bayelsa Media Summit would redefine the Bayelsa brand in the comity of states, called on the government to give the necessary support for the program to succeed.

"We commend the robust relationship between the state government and the media in Bayelsa State. We want to use this opportunity to express our gratitude for that.

"We also want to commend the government for the infrastructural development in the state that has extended to the grassroots. It means a lot to the people of Bayelsa State.

All of these  are because the government is looking at the future of Bayelsa State.

" Our media is also coming and we want to use the summit to showcase the state." He said.

 

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